The Man’s Guide to Aging with Vitality: 6 Ways to Optimize Kidney Health
November marks an important time for men’s health awareness. But I don’t like to wait to talk about important things, so you’re going to get the equally-inspired October version.
Thanks to awareness and fundraising campaigns, men’s health is getting the attention it deserves. As we age, specific health conditions become more common place, especially in our 40s, 50s and 60s. The truth is many of these conditions are caused by lifestyle factors that put a strain on Kidney health. The great news is they’re quite treatable. It requires strong and free flowing Qi & Blood, optimizing Yin & Yang, and strengthening Essence.
First lets take a look at the most common treatable conditions I see in my acupuncture practice:
The Role of the Kidneys in Men’s Health
All of the organs have their own important roles in men’s health. The Spleen takes in nutrition from food and the Lungs gather clean air, which come together to form Qi and Blood. The Heart and Liver play a crucial role in circulation and help to maintain emotional balance. However, the Kidneys are often considered the most crucial organs when it comes to men’s health. This is because they are responsible for storing Essence, as well as maintaining harmony between Yin and Yang.
In TCM, the Kidney system includes the adrenal glands and the reproductive organs. For this reason, they play a key role in energy, motivation, and sexual function. If your Kidneys are not functioning at their peak, you could suffer from a variety of symptoms including much of those listed above.
Treating these disharmonies relies on strong and free flowing Qi and Blood, optimizing and balancing Yin and Yang, and strengthening Essence. What are all of these things, you might ask? Let’s dig into it.
Qi & Blood are two of the most vital substances in TCM, and they have a close relationship with one another. Qi is often translated as ‘energy’ and is responsible for powering our muscles, organs, and all of our physiological functions. Blood is primarily responsible for providing nourishment rather than power. Qi gives Blood the energy needed to push it through the arteries and veins, and Blood nourishes Qi and provides it with a physical vehicle to carry it around the body.
In order to be healthy, both Qi and Blood need to be plentiful and flow freely through the channels. If either one becomes deficient or if a blockage occurs, disease may follow.
Yin & Yang are one of the most basic concepts of TCM. In many ways they are similar to Qi and Blood, in that Yin is denser and provides nourishment, whereas Yang is lighter and provides energy. Yin and Yang need to be a constant state of harmony in order to maintain good health. One way of understanding this is using the analogy of an oil lamp. In order to work, the lamp needs oil to act as fuel (yin) and a flame to provide energy (yang). If both Yin and Yang are present in the right amounts, the lamp will burn well. However, if either the oil or the flame is missing, the lamp will not work at all.
The Yin and Yang of the body operate in a similar way. If there is not enough of one or the other, none of your systems will function as they should.
Essence is a substance which is crucial to men’s health and vitality. It is partially inherited from your parents, and will be influenced by their age and health at the moment of your conception. Essence is also influenced by your diet and lifestyle. It can either be preserved or depleted by the choices that you make throughout your life.
Essence is especially important to men’s health as it governs growth, development, fertility, and the aging process. The Chinese word for Essence, Jing, also has a double meaning. On one hand it refers to the vital substance that keeps you fit and healthy as you move through life. On the other hand, it means sperm or semen, indicating just how essential Essence is for men’s health.
6 Ways to Optimize Kidney Function
Since so many common men’s health issues can be traced back to weak Kidney function, taking good care of these organs as you age is of the utmost importance. Here are six tips to strengthen them:
Optimize Your Diet: Eating a healthy diet is essential to keep your Qi, Blood, and Essence at their optimal levels. You should aim to eat a wide variety of foods to ensure that you are getting the full range of nutrients that you need. Base your meals on whole grains and lean protein, along with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables too. According to TCM, the best foods for nourishing the Kidneys are dark in colour and have a salty flavour. Some good examples include black olives, black rice, black beans, kidney beans, soy sauce, blackberries, and blueberries. Shellfish, nuts and seeds are also beneficial for men’s reproductive health, especially black sesame seeds, walnuts and almonds.
Healthy Work-Life Balance: Moderating activity and rest is essential to keep your Yin and Yang energies in balance. Working too hard will deplete your Yin, but if you are too inactive, your Yang may become tired and sluggish too. This is why it is important to find a good work-life balance that enables you to do everything you need to, but with plenty of opportunity to relax.
Exercise: The same rules apply to exercising. Making time to move your body every day will help to boost your energy and vitality, but overdo it and you could easily end up burning yourself out.
Quality Sleep: Prioritize quality sleep by maintaining a regular sleep schedule and creating a relaxing bedtime routine. Aim for 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night to support hormone regulation, energy levels, and overall well-being. Create a conducive sleep environment by minimizing exposure to screens, reducing noise and light, and ensuring comfort.
Emotional Well-Being: Cultivate emotional resilience and balance through practices such as journaling, spending time in nature, connecting with loved ones, and seeking support when needed. Emotional regulation is integral to health, and unresolved emotional issues can contribute to imbalances – in TCM we call this Qi Stagnation. By acknowledging and processing emotions in a healthy way, you can create a healthy flow of Qi and overall well-being.
Acupuncture and TCM Therapies: Consider incorporating acupuncture and other TCM therapies into your wellness routine to support overall health. Acupuncture, nutrition, cupping, and moxibustion are among the modalities that TCM practitioners may use to strengthen and move Qi and Blood, balance Yin and Yang energy, and strengthen Essence.
One of my favourite products to boost and balance men’s overall health and one I recommend to many of my patients is Super Tongkat Tincture from Light Cellar in Bowness. It contains four key ingredients that work in harmony to achieve this.
Tongkat = boosts production of male hormones, reduces stress hormone, increases muscle strength, boosts fertility, enhances energy, and provides possible immune benefits.
Pine Pollen = boosts hormone production/function and mood, has anti-inflammatory properties, and supports thee immune system.
He Shou Wu = Chinese herb/root that helps to tonify (strengthen) the Liver, Kidney and Heart, builds Qi and Blood, treats premature hair whitening, premature ejaculation, and sleep.
Wild Chongbai Mountain Ant = promotes strength and sexual energy.
Always consult with a qualified practitioner to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and health goals. Everyone is unique, and treatment often looks different for different people!
If you’re looking for guidance and support for your health, you can book an appointment with me.